I have two servers each with their own MySQL db... I have a form on server 1 that needs to update the table on server 2. Can I use the sql_connect on a script on server 1 to connect to server 2?

Any security issues?

Assuming you have access to both servers you can send form data on server 1 to the database on server 2. When you're connecting to any database you'll need to provide some information (username, password, database name, and server). When the database is located on the same server as the file connecting to it the server you use to connect is often referred to as localhost. If you want to connect to a database on a different server you'll need to supply the path to that server instead.

I'm not sure if there are any extra security issues to be aware of. Hopefully someone behind me will be able to answer that question.

Theres a few things to make sure you do.

1 - IN your php script, change localhost to teh IP of your other server
2 - On your other server make sur eyour firewall rules ONLY allow your server 1 to connect to it on the MYsql port.
3 - In MYsql itself, Create a LIMITED access account ( select, delete etc ) no drop etc.
4 - in mysql itself, ONLY allow that new user to connect from your remote IP.

Use GRANT query to create an access from the ip of the server you need to connect from.
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/...ing-users.html

But note, connecting remotely should degrade speed and responsibility. because it'll have to pass packets through internet to different location instead of using named pipes which is extremely fast compared to internet speed

thanks guys... making some valid points I'll be looking at